WASHINGTON—The Rev.
Martin Luther King Jr.'s "Letter From Birmingham Jail" deserves a response that
"asks forgiveness for past sins," offers thanks for "clear gains" over the last
50 years and resolves to do more, said the vice president of the U.S. Conference
of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) at an event in Birmingham, Alabama, April 14,
honoring the 50th anniversary of King's letter.

"While
violence surrounded Dr. King's life, he proclaimed in word and deed the
direction of his Savior, Jesus Christ – namely, that injustice must not be
ignored, but neither can violence be addressed and eliminated by greater acts
of violence," said Archbishop Joseph Kurtz of Louisville, Kentucky, who
represented USCCB at the April 14-15 symposium sponsored by Christian Churches
Together (CCT). Archbishop Kurtz's remarks followed keynote addresses by Rev.
Jim Wallis of Sojourners and U.S. Rep. John Lewis of Georgia.

On April 15, dozens of Christian
leaders signed an official response to King's letter and presented it to Rev.
Bernice King, the youngest daughter of Martin Luther King, Jr. They also participated
in an ecumenical prayer walk through historic Kelly Ingram Park, a central
location for demonstrations during the Civil Rights Movement. Rev. King called
on those gathered to "make sure their words move their shoes." Dorothy Cotton,
education coordinator of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC),
emphasized the need to resume the struggle for justice in today's multicultural
context.

Bishop Denis Madden, auxiliary bishop
of Baltimore and chairman of the USCCB Committee on Ecumenical and
Interreligious Affairs, Bishop Shelton Fabre, auxiliary bishop of New Orleans
and chairman of the USCCB Subcommittee on African Affairs, and other staff
members represented USCCB at the event.

"Of course, sorrow for the past and gratitude
for the present will be empty words unless matched by a clear resolve to
continue the work at hand. Fifty years ago, Rev. King Jr. was cautioned not to
do anything unwise or untimely. Indeed, his actions and our actions this day
not only reflect wisdom, both natural and supernatural, but also action whose
time has long since come," Archbishop Kurtz said. Archbishop Kurtz also cited
the U.S. bishops' 1979 pastoral letter on racism.

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